SPRINGFIELD — The state of Illinois is spending more than $600,000 to get the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site in shape for the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s death in 2015.

Gov. Pat Quinn said Wednesday he approved the spending for the work. The repair work means the tomb in Springfield’s Oak Ridge Cemetery will be closed from Dec. 1 until early March. Quinn says its “vital” that the tomb is kept in top condition to accommodate the thousands of visitors who visit every year. The exterior of the tomb will be open to tourists.

The money will pay to fix deteriorated and damaged finishes and replace interior lighting.

The 117-foot-tall tomb was dedicated in 1874. Lincoln, his wife Mary and three of their four sons — Edward, Tad and William — are buried there. Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham’s oldest son, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.